Author: Editorial Team

Finnish melodic death metal veterans Omnium Gatherum are closing out the final dates of their Finnish tour this weekend with shows in Jyväskylä and Helsinki, but the band is already turning attention toward what’s next. As momentum builds for their upcoming spring live run, the group has unveiled an unexpected new single titled “Moongold.” The track was recorded during the sessions for May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way, the album released late last year that drew strong praise from metal media worldwide.

Vocalist Jukka Pelkonen explains how the song fits into that creative period, saying: “‘Moongold’ follows the overall style of the album. It’s fast and packed with energy, and while the song is somewhat stripped down, its layers reveal themselves after a few spins. “Moongold” is one of my favorites from these sessions, and I truly hope it will make its way into our setlist in the future – this song was absolutely made with live the performance in mind.”

Guitarist Markus Vanhala adds more context to the track’s history: “’Moongold’ was originally released as an ‘Eastern wonder,’ meaning a Japan-exclusive around the time the album came out. However, we ultimately decided to leave it off the album itself, as it didn’t quite fit the overall flow and we wanted the record to be a short, sharp burst of aggression. That said, the song stands very strong on its own as a melodic death metal anthem and is pure OG – perhaps a slightly more old-school version. And now, here it is, served to you and to your loved one, to these moonlit afternoons.”

As Omnium Gatherum enter their 30th anniversary year, the band remains one of Finland’s most consistently touring metal exports. Their European headline tour begins on February 11, with Fallujah and In Mourning joining as special guests. This leg follows an extensive North American headline run that kicked off the world tour cycle for May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way last year.

“The calendar is full – just the way it should be, and there’s more to come. It suits a band whose core is that of an honest, sweaty live act,” Vanhala says with a smile.

Formed in 1996 in the coastal town of Karhula, Omnium Gatherum have long operated at the intersection of traditional heavy metal, Gothenburg-inspired melodic death metal, and progressive elements. Over the years, this blend has earned them the tongue-in-cheek description of Adult-Oriented Death Metal.

On May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way, founding guitarist and primary songwriter Markus Vanhala—also known for his work with Insomnium and Cemetery Skyline—aimed to showcase the full range of the band’s sound. The album balances memorable hooks with sharp guitar work, heavy rhythms, layered keyboards, and vocals that move fluidly between harsh aggression and melody.

Lyrically, May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way unfolds as a loose concept record built around “stories from the streets,” told through the eyes of dreamers, fiends, liars, and wanderers. Tracks such as “Walking Ghost Phase” explore addiction and despair, while “Ignite the Flame” leans into themes of brotherhood and resistance. In “The Darkest City”, the city itself becomes a narrator, reflecting the tension and disorder of modern life.

“There’s a 90s spirit in these lyrics as well,” says Vanhala. “Even if they’re not autobiographical, they echo where we came from – street corners, blasting metal and dreaming big.”

The album was recorded across several Finnish studios, including former industrial spaces that brought a distinct atmosphere to the sessions. Jukka Pelkonen tracked his vocals in Sweden alongside Björn ‘Speed’ Strid of Soilwork, who co-produced the vocal recordings and contributed gang shouts. For those interested in the technical details, the vocals were captured using the legendary SSL console previously used on Queen’s Innuendo. Mixing and mastering duties once again went to Jens Bogren and Tony Lindgren at Sweden’s Fascination Street Studios. Clocking in at under 45 minutes, the album delivers a focused listen built for impact, with no excess and no wasted space.

The post OMNIUM GATHERUM Shares Official Audio Video For Single “Moongold” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Swedish progressive metal veterans Opeth have released a new performance video for “§7,” one of the standout tracks from their latest album, The Last Will And Testament. The clip presents the band in a direct, no-frills setting that puts the focus squarely on musicianship, atmosphere, and the emotional pull of the song itself.

The video captures Opeth in a focused and commanding state, emphasizing tight interplay and the darker tone that has come to define this era of the band. Without visual distractions, the performance leans into precision and mood, allowing the intensity of the track to carry the experience.

The timing of the release is deliberate, arriving just weeks before Opeth begin their U.S. tour. The run will showcase material from The Last Will And Testament while also making room for longtime fan favorites pulled from across the band’s extensive catalog.

Frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt shared his thoughts on the song’s challenges in a live environment, saying: “That track was scary to play live at first. Most of our songs are challenging, I suppose, and this one is no exception. I believe we all love playing this one. There are a myriad of details that could go wrong though, but it’s fun. It keeps you on your toes. And of course, then there’s Ian Anderson‘s narrations, which is the only thing in our set that isn’t ‘live’. Since we don’t play to a click track, it’s dragging or pushing depending on the tempo of the evening. Again, it’s fun and I love the unforeseeable character of this song in a live setting. That’s a bit odd since I normally want to feel completely secure and really know what I’m doing. I generally don’t like surprises on stage.”

Within the album’s larger storyline, “§7” plays a central role. The Last Will And Testament has been widely noted for its cinematic structure and willingness to move between contrasting moods. By reducing the presentation to its core elements, the new video highlights how Opeth balance technical detail with emotional impact, a dynamic that has long been central to Åkerfeldt’s songwriting approach.

After wrapping up their U.S. dates, Opeth are also scheduled to perform select shows across Europe later in the year, continuing to support the album on an international scale.

Listeners are encouraged to revisit The Last Will And Testament as a complete work, with “§7” serving as one chapter in a larger arc. From its unsettling opening passages to its more forceful closing moments, the album is designed to reward careful, start-to-finish listening.

The performance video for “§7” is available now, and The Last Will And Testament can be streamed across major platforms. Fans can also catch Opeth live on tour, with tickets currently available here.

Opeth 2026 North American Tour Dates:

Feb. 05 – US Montclair, The Wellmont Theater
Feb. 06 – US Boston, Orpheum Theater
Feb. 07 – US Philadelphia, The Filmore Philadelphia
Feb. 10 – US Detroit, Masonic Temple Theater
Feb. 11 – US Chicago, Riviera Theater
Feb. 12 – US St. Louis, The Pageant
Feb. 14 – US Dallas, The Bomb Factory
Feb. 15 – US Houston, Bayou Music Center
Feb. 16 – US San Antonio, Majestic Theater
Feb. 18 – US Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Center
Feb. 20 – US Las Vegas, Pearl Concert Theater At Palms
Feb. 21 – US Riverside, Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Feb. 22 – US Sacramento, Channel 24
Feb. 24 – US Seattle, Paramount Theater
Feb. 25 – CA Vancouver, Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre

The post OPETH Shares Performance Video For “Paragraph Seven” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

As the February 6 release date approaches for Puscifer’s fifth studio album, Normal Isn’t, the band is giving fans another reason to visit their local record shops. Select independent retailers will host advance screenings of the new concert film Normal Isn’t: Puscifer Live At The Pacific Stock Exchange, turning album week into a shared, in-person experience.

Maynard James Keenan underscored the importance of those spaces, saying: “Brick and mortar vinyl shops are the lifeblood of independent bands. There is a symbiotic relationship that was almost obliterated by the age of digital downloads and streaming. Thankfully we survived by working together.”

Screenings of Normal Isn’t: Puscifer Live At The Pacific Stock Exchange will take place between February 6 and February 8, with participating retailers handling their own schedules and details. Fans who can’t attend in person will still be able to purchase the concert film online beginning February 9 at noon Pacific, or 3 p.m. Eastern here.

Shot inside Los Angeles’s original stock exchange, an art deco building long rumored to be one of the city’s most haunted locations, the film captures a pivotal moment for Puscifer. It documents the first live performance of Normal Isn’t and introduces a completely reimagined stage production, complete with new costumes and a light show driven by bold graphics. As songs such as “Self Evident,” “Pendulum,” and “Bad Wolf” echo through the granite-lined hall, Maynard James Keenan, Carina Round, Mat Mitchell, Gunnar Olsen, and Josh Moreau deliver a tightly focused, high-energy performance that translates the album’s mood to the stage.

The release of Normal Isn’t coincides with the concert film’s debut and includes the recent singles “Self Evident,” “Pendulum,” and “ImpetuoUs.” Beyond music, Puscifer has also expanded into comics, recently launching Tales From The Pusciverse issue No. 1, which quickly sold out. A second printing is scheduled to arrive on January 25, extending the band’s growing universe into another medium.

Arizona

• Candy & Records – Phoenix, AZ
• Deadwax Records – Goodyear, AZ
• Queen B Vinyl Café – Cottonwood, AZ
• Stinkweeds – Phoenix, AZ
• Vinyl Record Dude – Scottsdale, AZ
• Zia Records – Chandler, AZ

California

• DBZ Books ‘N’ Records – Corona, CA
• Folklore Records – Napa, CA
• Rhino Records – Montclair, CA
• Run Out Groove Records – Burbank, CA
• Spinning Plate Records – Covina, CA
• Track City Records – Escondido, CA

Colorado

• Downtown Sound Records – Greeley, CO
• Vinyl Valhalla – Littleton, CO
• Wax Trax Records Northside – Denver, CO
• What’s Left Records – Colorado Springs, CO

Connecticut

• Revolution Records – Torrington, CT
• Static Era Records – Milford, CT
• Telegraph Autonomous Zone – New London, CT
• Vinyl Street Co – Fairfield, CT

Florida

• Bearded Vinyl – Macclenny, FL
• D & J Records – Dunedin, FL
• Dog Records – Sarasota, FL
• Tonevendor Records – St. Augustine, FL
• Vintage Vibes Records – Stuart, FL

Georgia

• Vinylyte Records – Newnan, GA

Idaho

• Modern Sounds Vinyl – Boise, ID
• Modern Sounds Vinyl – Twin Falls, ID

Illinois

• Bucket O’ Blood – Chicago, IL
• Elmhurst Records – Elmhurst, IL
• Left Round Records – Plainfield, IL
• Positively 4th St Records – Charleston, IL
• Siren Records – McHenry, IL
• The Record Shop on 95th – Evergreen Park, IL

Indiana

• Psychedelic Cellar – Marion, IN
• Siples Records – Terre Haute, IN
• Space Monkey Records – Evansville, IN
• The Record Cellar – Vincennes, IN

Louisiana

• 22 Sounds Records – Mandeville, LA

Maryland

• The Sound Garden – Baltimore, MD

Michigan

• Green Light Music – Kalamazoo, MI
• Rock City Music Co. – Livonia, MI
• Slick Disc – Trenton, MI

Mississippi

• T-Bones Records & Café – Hattiesburg, MS

Missouri

• Jammin’ Nuggets Music – Sedalia, MO

Montana

• Cameron Records – Billings, MT
• Ear Candy Music – Missoula, MT

Nebraska

• First Day Vinyl – Lincoln, NE

New Jersey

• Revilla Grooves – Milltown, NJ
• Yearbook Records – Lanoka Harbor, NJ

New Mexico

• Heads Up Music – Taos, NM

New York

• HiFi Provisions – Brooklyn, NY
• Looney Tunes Record Store – West Babylon, NY
• Squatch Den Records – Horseheads, NY
• The Sound Garden – Syracuse, NY

North Carolina

• Schoolkids Records – Raleigh, NC
• Sell Your Soul Records – Mooresville, NC
• Yellow Dog Discs – Wilmington, NC

Ohio

• Roots Records – Columbus, OH
• The Vinyl Groove Records – Cleveland, OH
• Used Kids Records – Columbus, OH

Oklahoma

• Screaming Earth Records – Owasso, OK

Pennsylvania

• Everlong Records – Hamburg, PA
• Spin Me Round – Easton, PA

South Dakota

• Black Hills Vinyl – Rapid City, SD

Tennessee

• AndVinyl Records – Clarksville, TN
• Soundtrax Records – Morristown, TN

Texas

• High Fidelity Records – Amarillo, TX
• Cactus Music – Houston, TX
• Curious Collections – College Station, TX
• Dead Wax Records – Garland, TX
• For The Record – Beaumont, TX
• Sound Revolution – Spring, TX
• Space City Audio – Spring, TX
• Volume Music – The Woodlands, TX
• ZT Records – Frisco, TX
• ZT Records – Arlington, TX

Utah

• Graywhale – Taylorsville, UT

Virginia

• AFK Books & Records – Virginia Beach, VA
• Bumrush Vinyl – Fredericksburg, VA

Washington

• C-Side Records – Port Orchard, WA
• Rockin’ Ruby’s Records – Poulsbo, WA
• Tangerine Tree – Aberdeen, WA

West Virginia

• Admiral Analog’s – Shepherdstown, WV
• Nail City Record – Wheeling, WV
• Orbit’s Record Shop – Barboursville, WV

Wisconsin

• Back to the Vinyl – Waupaca, WI
• Beat Goes On – West Bend, WI
• Rock n’ Roll Land – Green Bay, WI

Wyoming

• Sonic Rainbow – Casper, WY

Germany

• Rough Trade – Berlin, DE

The post PUSCIFER Celebrates Upcoming Album “Normal Isn’t” With In-Store Events Throughout Several States appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Def Leppard have released a new single, “Rejoice,” arriving just ahead of the band’s return to Las Vegas for Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency, which kicks off February 3. The track is out now via UMe on streaming platforms, and it’s being positioned as part of the build-up to a new run of shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

The band says the song started with a lyrical idea and quickly found the right musical match. Singer Joe Elliott described how the initial concept came together when he brought it to guitarist Phil Collen.

“This song’s been an amazing journey from concept to conclusion. I said to Phil [Collen, Def Leppard guitarist] one day, ‘I’ve got this idea for a lyric where the narrator is at absolute rock bottom and wants to rise up to a higher level. Do you have a musical piece that might match that? And he said, ‘As it happens, yes I do.’”

From Collen’s side, he had the core riff sitting around, and the timing lined up. He built the track’s foundation with a loop designed to push a more primal, percussive feel, then sent it over for Elliott to write on top of.

“I had this riff, this idea for a song a while ago actually, so when Joe came to me I created this drum loop based on a tribal sound, and it fit perfectly with this other arrangement I had. I sent it to Joe, and it was like magic — he sang straight over the top of it. And that’s how the song was formed. Then we gave it to Ronan [McHugh], who’d done a proper drum loop with different sounds. It all started gelling and just sounded like a powerful chant. We love it. It’s hard rock for us. It’s got a bit more of an ‘oomph’ than stuff we’ve been doing for a while. It’s kind of magical.”

The timing makes sense: “Rejoice” is set to get its live moment in Vegas, where fans can expect the new track alongside staples from Def Leppard’s catalog. Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency runs through February 28, 2026, and follows the band’s previous sold-out Vegas residency runs in 2013 and 2019.

The post DEF LEPPARD Share Lyric Video For New Single “Rejoice”, 2026 Las Vegas Residency Starting In February appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Sodom’s, 1994 album Get What You Deserve didn’t stick to any of the rules of the era.

“We just wanted to sound completely nuts — full-on, in-your-face madness – it was pure Sodom just not giving a damn. Especially not about what anyone else was doing. We wanted to do what felt right to us — raw, grimy, unpolished. Songs that would make other people cringe — that’s what we were after.”

The new single “Jabba the Hutt” is one such track, and it may appear that it‘s named after a Star Wars character — but it’s actually about a real person. When asked about it, Tom Angelripper and Andy Brings respond in unison: “We won’t comment on that.”

The accompanying video is cut from archive camcorder footage of the infamous photoshoots for both the grotesque album cover of Get What You Deserve and its preceding EP, Aber Bitte Mit Sahne, and provides a snapshot into the warped minds of Sodom in 1994.

Thirty-two years later, this snarling beast is being unleashed on the metal community once again. A timeless punch to the gut — or, as Maik Weichert, guitarist and mastermind of German metalcore heroes Heaven Shall Burn, puts it: “The best punk album of the nineties!”

Get What You Deserve will be released as an extensive box set, remastered and newly mixed by Andy Brings, including the remastered and remixed Aber Bitte Mit Sahne EP, plus the first concert with Atomic Steif as a bonus double LP and a DVD with additional live shows.

Alongside the original hotel room cover, the package also includes the censored version with the band photo and the originally planned artwork featuring a Knarrenheinz painting by cult artist Andreas Marschall.

Get What You Deserve will be released on February 27, 2026, via BMG and is available for pre-order now.

The post SODOM Share Music Video For “Jabba The Hutt” From Upcoming Expanded Edition Of 1994 Album “Get What You Deserve” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

In Flames are adding a handful of U.S. headlining dates in May, scheduled around their festival appearances at Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple. Select shows will feature support from Thrown, Distant, and Upon Stone. Check out the itinerary below.

If you want early access, there’s a presale running on Thursday, January 22, from 10:00 a.m. ET until 10:00 p.m. ET. You’ll need the presale code “FOREGONE” when prompted. General on-sale follows Friday, January 23, at 10:00 a.m. local time.

• 05/09 — Little Rock, AR @ The Hall (Upon Stone only)
• 05/10 — Kansas City, MO @ VooDoo At Harrah’s Kansas City (Upon Stone only)
• 05/12 — Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave (with Thrown and Distant)
• 05/13 — E. Moline, IL @ The Rust Belt (with Thrown and Distant)
• 5/4 — Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre (with Thrown and Distant)
• 05/15 — London, ON @ London Music Hall (with Thrown and Distant)
• 0516 — Albany, NY @ Empire Live (with Thrown and Distant)

On the lineup side, In Flames made a key change behind the kit last year. In May, the band split with drummer Tanner Wayne, ending his seven-year run. For live dates, Jon Rice stepped in temporarily — a familiar name to extreme metal and heavy rock fans thanks to his work with Behemoth, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, The Red Chord, Job For A Cowboy, and Scorpion Child.

The post IN FLAMES Announces Headlining 2026 U.S. Tour Dates In May appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Tunisian–French metal innovators Myrath today release their new single “Soul of My Soul,” a deeply emotional and intimate song about love, loss, and the bond that survives beyond time and absence.

Rather than mourning what is gone, the band explores memory as something eternal — a presence that lingers in every breath, every silence, every corner of the mind. Blending heartfelt melodies with Myrath‘s signature cinematic power, “Soul of My Soul” unfolds as a moving and beautifully crafted piece that feels both fragile and infinite.

“If you thought that 2024’s Karma was a big step up in their theatrical desires, just wait until the jaw-dropping brilliance of Wilderness Of Mirrors launches itself into the public domain! Put simply, and without wishing to be overly melodramatic, this is the most ambitious, most complete and most engaging set that Myrath have produced to date!” 

Wilderness of Mirrors will be released on March 27 and features 10 brand-new, emotionally charged tracks that continue Myrath‘s evolution of blending oriental influences with progressive and power metal. Fans can expect a journey through fantasy and reality, from haunting melodies to thunderous riffs and cinematic arrangements.

To celebrate the release, Myrath will embark on a major European tour starting in April 2026, bringing Wilderness of Mirrors to fans across 16 countries.

With millions of views on their cinematic music videos, critically acclaimed albums, and performances at festivals such as Hellfest, Wacken, and Sweden Rock, Myrath continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Wilderness of Mirrors represents the band at their most dynamic and authentic, a milestone in their journey toward becoming one of metal’s most unique acts.

Pre-orders for Wilderness of Mirrors and tickets for the European tour are available now. Don’t miss the next chapter in Myrath‘s epic musical journey.

The post MYRATH Stream New Single “Soul of My Soul”, From Upcoming Album “Wilderness Of Mirrors” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Exodus have announced their 12th studio album, the follow-up to their highest charting record ever and Napalm Records debut, Goliath, out March 20, 2026.

Today, the band reveals the massive opening track “3111” – the sinister single strikes dissonant chords before careening into breakneck thrash intensity. This album standout showcases Exodus‘ ever-increasingly dynamic approach, even decades into their historic reign. The music video was censored by YouTube due to the brutality; it will be released in its entirety at a later time and place.

“We decided to go hard with the leadoff single, ‘3111’. The song is about the narco killings in Juarez, and ‘3111’ is the estimated number of murders for 2010 alone,” the band says.

Pre-order the album here.

Emerging hungrier than ever in 2026, with Goliath, Exodus reinforces their eternal foothold at the top of thrash metal’s hierarchy with 10 of their most diverse, anthemic emissions to date. Further fueled by the widely embraced return of iconic late-era frontman Rob Dukes – first appearing on 2005’s Shovel Headed Kill Machine – the album boasts what the band describes as the performance of his life.

Goliath is Exodus’ most collaborative record in their four-decade-plus history, featuring songs written by several band members and guest contributions from Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) and violinist Katie Jacoby.

“Are we excited for this record? That’s an understatement. We put everything we had into this record (and it’s 80 percent complete follow-up, but we’ll save that conversation for another day!), and it’s one of our proudest accomplishments. Wildly collaborative, the most band-centric album to date, with four songs written by Lee, lyrics by Gary, Rob, Lee, and Tom, and just killer all the way around. The time to let the monster loose is coming! Bow Down!,” the band added.

Produced by Exodus, mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Nile, Undeath), Goliath beams with the explosive authenticity that has set Exodus eons apart from their peers since the release of their debut, 1985’s groundbreaking thrash blueprint Bonded By Blood. 40 years later, Exodus remains steadfast in their refusal to settle for the safety of mediocrity, fearing nothing and no one, and continues to forge their trademark just as resolutely as they did in their inception.

The post EXODUS Announce New Studio Album “Goliath”, Stream First Single “3111” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The Funeral Portrait has jumped headlong into 2026 with today’s release of their first-ever live album, Live From Suffocate City via Better Noise Music, available to stream/download and purchase as a CD/Blu-ray combo and on vinyl in their signature green and purple here. To coincide with the album, the band is bringing the track “Stay Weird” to cinematic life with today’s video.

“‘Stay Weird’ has always been our love letter to the beautifully strange souls who’ve supported this band from day one,” declares frontman Lee Jennings. “Hearing The Coffin Crew scream it back at us in Atlanta during our ‘Suffocate City Town Hall Meeting’ was unreal. That night captured everything we stand for—individuality, belonging, and the freedom to be exactly who you are. I’m beyond excited that this live album lets the world feel that energy.”

“Stay Weird” is the follow-up to the live video of their breakout single, “Voodoo Doll,” released on October 31.

On Live From Suffocate City, fans are invited to step inside the chaos and catharsis of The Funeral Portrait’s first-ever “Suffocate City Town Hall Meeting,” captured live from their sold-out hometown show at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA in 2025. The exclusive Blu-ray documents the band’s legendary performance in front of a packed house of diehard fans. It’s a thrilling night of raw emotion, high-energy theatrics, and fan-favorite anthems.

Fans were already treated to an early glimpse of the live album with the August 22 release of the four-track Dark Thoughts EP. In addition to the live track, three other versions of “Dark Thoughts” are featured: the original version, a version featuring vocals by Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, and a new remix of the song.

The Greetings From Suffocate City album was originally released September 13, 2024. It consists of 14 tracks of theatrical, dramatic, unapologetic, full-throated flair with guest appearances from Bert McCracken of The Used, Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills, Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, and Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire.

The deluxe edition, Greetings From Suffocate City – From Beyond The Abyss: Deluxe Edition, was released June 13 via Better Noise Music, with digital, CD, and vinyl copies available here. It contains 24 songs including tracks from the Casanova EP and the From Beyond The Abyss EP, as well as “Holy Water” feat. Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch, “Hearse for Two” feat. Lilith Czar and three brand new songs: “Skinny Lies,” “Evergreen,” and “Lost Boy.” The vinyl and CD two-disc deluxe packages feature 21 tracks, one of which is exclusive to the physical formats (“Friends Like These”).

The album campaign for Greetings From Suffocate City began in August 2022 with the release of “Voodoo Doll” when they were an opening band in 300-400 person venues (or smaller). Throughout 2025 they performed 176 shows and drew the biggest crowds at major festivals including Warped Tour and Louder Than Life, touring all year with bands like Ice Nine Kills, The Used, Underoath, In This Moment, and they performed their first-ever European tour with The Rasmus.

2026 stands to be another big touring year for The Funeral Portrait. They’re set for two hometown “Suffocate City Town Hall Meeting” shows in Atlanta, GA on January 16 (tonight) and 17 before heading out on the “Alienation” tour with Three Days Grace along with I Prevail starting February 21 in Fort Wayne, IN. Tickets for all shows are available on the band’s official website.

The post THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT Shares Live Video For “Stay Weird” From Their First-Ever Live Album “Live From Suffocate City” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

For over a decade, NMB has stood as one of progressive rock’s most enduring and unified collectives. With their latest studio album, L.I.F.T., set for release on February 27th, 2026,

Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Eric Gillette, Bill Hubauer, and Randy George are returning with a work that embodies vision, passion, and inspiration. Written and recorded during a period of major transition, L.I.F.T. captures the band’s creative chemistry at its most instinctive and inspired.

Today, the band is pleased to reveal the second single from the album, titled “Hurt People,” and you can watch the video below.

Neal Morse comments: “At some point in my life, I heard the phrase ‘hurt people hurt people, meaning that those who are doing damage to others are damaged themselves. Anyway, the phrase always stayed with me. When we were writing ‘L.I.F.T.’, we were at the point in the story arc where the person has his or her break in belonging, and we were working on this heavy section. Mike and Eric were playing this heavy stuff, and I started singing “hurt people hurt people” over what they were doing. It didn’t fully come to life until Eric sang it (what a vocal! – not to mention guitar solo!), which didn’t happen till months later, but when it all came together, wow.”

Conceptually, L.I.F.T. stands toe to toe with NMB’s greatest works, like their much-acclaimed concept album Similitude Of A Dream, combining emotional depth with the band’s trademark progressive rock grandeur.

“In short, L.I.F.T. is a prog concept album that follows the journey of someone seeking to belong to something greater than themselves,” Morse explains. “It starts with feeling connected to the world and life, then there is a break in belonging, after which comes the turmoil and desperate cry, leading to a return to that place of profound connection.”

The album title came late, though its meaning remains intentionally vague. “We thought it could stand for different things,” says Randy. “It’s kind of whatever the listener wants it to be.”

True to the band’s collaborative spirit, L.I.F.T. began with the usual whiteboard full of ideas, with columns under each member’s name filled with riffs and snippets. However, few of them made it onto the final album. “We hardly used any of the ideas on the board,” says George. “Most of it was written right there in the room, more so than in the past.” While Bill Hubauer contributed a few early sketches, and Morse improvised piano pieces that evolved into key themes, much of the music took shape spontaneously.

With artwork created by longtime collaborator Thomas Ewerhard, the L.I.F.T. will be available as a Limited 2CD Digipak (incl. instrumental versions), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 2LP & as Digital Download. Pre-order it now here.

The sessions were engineered by longtime collaborator Jerry Guidroz, with all drum tracks recorded on-site before each member continued working individually from home studios. For the first time, NMB worked entirely outside their familiar recording environment, at Eric Gillette’s studio in Tulsa, adding a layer of uncertainty to the process. “It was strange not being in the usual studio,” George admits. “But hearing the final mixes, it all came together beautifully.”

Mixing once again fell to longtime collaborator Rich Mouser, who has been refining NMB’s complex sound for years. As George explains, the band sends him the tracks and lets him work independently: “We just let him do his thing.” Despite the enormous amount of detail in the arrangements, Mouser once again delivered a mix where “everything lives.” The drums, in particular, stand out. Mouser will experiment by removing or combining elements “to see what it sounds like if this isn’t there.” The result is another brilliant showcase of the band’s trademark sound.

L.I.F.T. is everything the NMB fan could hope for and will surely live on in the great canon of the band’s outstanding career as one of their best.

The post NMB Share Music Video For New Single “Hurt People”, From Upcoming Studio Album “L.I.F.T.” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.